Spotlight: Anil Gupta of Live Nation VIP

The Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre is ripe with celebrity headliners storming the stage this summer, and its close proximity in Chula Vista makes it a cakewalk to see the band you’ve been mimicking lately in the shower. Hand over your air-mic Sasha Fierce, and let the experts provide the entertainment at Cricket Wireless.

But before you saunter your way into the Amphitheatre, housing more than 9,000 movie theatre-style arena seats and a lawn capacity of 10,000, consider Live Nation Premium Seating. For a group of friends or work colleagues, the VIP Section provides the best sightlines to the stage in the heart of the Amphitheatre, exclusive premium parking, venue VIP entrance, access to the VIP lounge, personal wait service at your box, and access to private restrooms.

Anil Gupta, head of Live Nation Premium Seating, takes charge of the box and season seats that provide guests with a luxury concert experience, sans crowds, mosh pits, drink spills, and the ever-impending elbow-to-the-face. Anil’s work with Live Nation puts him constantly in the midst of the Cricket Wireless action, not lacking any degree of star-powered headlining performances with crowds pushing 20,000.

We asked Anil to share some of his personal highlights working with Live Nation, how his career took off, and who we can expect to see lighting up our city in the coming months.

DiscoverSD: Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you originally from and what brought you to San Diego? 

Anil Gupta:  I’m originally from northern Indiana, a small town, Elkhart, about 90 miles east of Chicago.  I was living and working in Chicago, at United Airlines corporate headquarters, leaving the company shortly after 9/11.  My parents had moved to Orange County about a year before, so I was already pretty familiar with Southern California.  I had always wanted to try living in California, and I thought, “Well, if I don’t like it, I can always come back.” So, soon after I left my job, I decided to move…..and 9 years later I’m still here!

DSD: How did you begin your career with Live Nation?

Anil: I worked in Sales for the Padres from 2003-2006.  I kept in touch with the recruiting company that helped me get the Padres job, and it turned out that they were recruiting for Live Nation.  They connected me with another former baseball hire at Live Nation, who would later turn out to be my 1st boss.  I thought it was a great opportunity, and with that – my career in music began!   After working for Live Nation in LA for two years, I was given the chance return to San Diego.  Of course, I jumped on it!

DSD: What are some of your favorite parts about your job? What do you look forward to most every day?

Anil: The best part of my job is that I get to talk about music for a living!  It doesn’t get much better than that!  I also love that I’m helping create memories for my clients.  Everyone remembers their great concert experiences.  I get to be part of that, and I look forward to that everyday.   I also enjoy the excitement in my client’s voices when they have a show that they are pumped for, or just saw an awesome show.   I like to think that I played a small part in that excitement!

DSD: What have been some of your personal favorite concerts/shows that you’ve been a part of?

Anil: I have seen a lot great shows!  The coolest show that I have been part of would have to be Jay-Z at the Palladium in LA.   The Palladium is one of the most historic venues in all of Southern California.  It’s small and only holds about 3,000 people.    Live Nation renovated the venue and the Grand “re-opening” was in October 2008.  Jay-Z played an amazing show with a full band backing him up.  Such an awesome experience, especially in such a small venue!

DSD: Any crazy, funny, or outrageous stories that you’ve experienced from the VIP area?

Anil: That I can talk about here?!  Hmmm…..well, I’ve got some great stories from Motley Crue shows, but I’m think what happens the VIP Club stays in the VIP Club at a Crue show! 

Tim McGraw going through the VIP Lounge this year to start his show was very cool!

DSD: What shows are you most looking forward to?

Anil: I have seen Kid Rock in LA, and whether you’re a big fan or not, he is incredible live, so I’m looking forward to his show.  Of course Motley Crue will be fun, and Kings of Leon will put on a great show also.  I have never seen Lil’ Wayne live, so I am excited to check that show out.  I also think Blink-182 will be an amazing experience, since they are from San Diego and will have such great local support. I’m sure they’ll pull out all the stops at their hometown show; not to mention they are just a great live band!

DSD: When you’re not busy working, where can we find you?

Anil: What? Not working during summer concert season?  No, I do try to mix in some personal time.  You can usually find be drinking a cold beer at a bar in PB.  I like places I can grab a beer and some good food.  Bub’s, Dirty Birds and Nicks are a few of my favorites.  And the West End is always a good decision to close out the night.  Also, if the Chicago Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, or Indiana University basketball are on, there’s a good bet you’ll find me watching that!

DSD: What are some of the benefits and bonuses to sitting VIP? 

Anil: Our VIP packages are the way to go for the best concert experience.   You have ability to choose between awesome seats in the Center Orchestra, 100-level or Box Seats.  You can show up early and relax in the VIP Lounge.  We have a DJ spinning, two full bars, and happy hour for the 1st hour.  Head into the show whenever you feel like it, and then head back to the Lounge during the intermission to grab a drink.  Oh, and we have restrooms in the Lounge, so you don’t have to wait in line with everyone else!  One of the best parts of VIP seating is that the VIP Lounge is open after the show.  So, while everyone else is sitting in traffic, our VIPs can hang in the lounge, have a drink (in moderation, or course) and relax. There’s no need to deal with the masses!

DSD: What can San Diego expect in the next few months to be presented by Live Nation? 

Anil: I’ve mentioned a few, but here are some of the hot shows coming to Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre this summer:  Kid Rock, Toby Keith, Motley Crue, Poison, Sade & John Legend, Lil' Wayne, Kings of Leon, Rascal Flatts, Santana, Blink-182, Journey, Judas Priest, and Jason Aldean.  Live Nation is also bringing Adele and Ke$ha to the Open Air Theatre, and Foo Fighters to Viejas Arena.  It’s shaping up to be an amazing summer for live music in San Diego!

Go VIP: Snag a luxury private Bow or Season Seat at Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre. For more information about upcoming shows or Premium seating, please call 877.864.2063 or visit Cricket Amphitheatre in San Diego.

Discover more of the best entertainment in our San Diego events calendar.